Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8, 14. According to these texts, what would Paul include in his concept of truth?

In this passage Paul introduces the word tradition. How can Paul put tradition next to scripture? Jesus himself rebuked the religious leaders for their traditions (Mark 7:8). The Apostles are asking of the Thessalonians to remember the traditions that they have instituted. We have to remember that tradition is not wrong if it is according to scripture. Paul only wants others to follow him as him is faithful to following Christ (1 Cor 11). We must also test everything according to the scriptures receive the good and discard the bad (1 thes 5:21). Tradition serves as a way to pass on an element of truth which may not explicit in scripture. We must know how to properly use scripture and tradition. How do you think tradition functions in along side the scriptures?

These texts reveal how important Paul's actions were for the Thessalonians. Though he had truth directly from the Lord (Gal. 1:1), He bore witness as much by His life and actions as by His words. How well do our lives reflect the truths that we have been given?

Paul speaks about how we are living epistles (2 cor 3:2). When we live out the scriptures we be come a scripture to the people that we meet each day. When there is an incongruence with the truth we know and the lives we live we are hypocrites. We will have to give any account for the truth that God has given us and what we have done with it. There is spiritual power in a live that lives out the principles of the scriptures. Scripture and tradition together can benefit us. The bible provides for us a manual on how to live optimally on this earth and also how to make it to the new earth. Read the manual!

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, thank the treasure of scripture. Help us to meet Jesus in it’s precious pages. May we be a scripture to all we encounter, may we be like Jesus. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5. Though the challenges to our faith are out there, Paul expresses hope. On what is that hope based, and what is the condition upon which we can be certain to claim it? See also Luke 10:25-28, Deut. 8:1.

In this verse it joins two things. This first this is that the Thessalonians must be faithful to God. God will walk along side them and keep them from the evil one but their faith must be rooted and grounded in him. In addition to this they must remain obedient to the commands which they were taught. God wants to keep us from the evil one , but we must resolve not to give the enemy any foot hole in our lives. When we do this we can have confidence in the face of evil.

Even amid trials and suffering, Paul's letters are always so full of faith, hope, and certainty. How can we learn to have this faith, hope, and certainty for ourselves, regardless of our often difficult circumstances?

We must continue to read the scriptures and read the beautiful passages of hope. We must also apply the scriptures to our lives and practice it’s principles. By trusting in God we can have confidence in the face of evil.

Prayer: Father, help us to be more faithful, please keep us from the evil one. In Jesus name amen.

Faithful by God’s Choice

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. Why does Paul thank God for the Thessalonians? What does he ask them to do in this passage? In what ways are these words so pertinent to us today, so near the end?

Paul is thankful because God choose the Thessalonian believers for salvation. Paul is asking the Thessalonian believers to continually remember and put into action the things they were taught. God choose the Thessalonians for salvation and sanctification, but they still have to make their own choice. God is working for us all to be saved but we must choose to be saved each day. To stand firm requires us to be intentional about our faith. As Christians who are living near the end we should seek to remain faithful to God’s word. We are faithful by by God’s choice and our own choice.

Read again the texts for today. So many forces are always at work trying to pry us away from the truth. Look at how you have changed over time. Do these changes reveal a slow, steady settling into the truth or slow, steady movement away from it? In other words, in what direction is your life moving?

I would really love to say that I have been moving toward the truth, but it seems like the opposite. Gradual compromise is so dangerous because it’s slow, methodical , and patient. If you have been slowly slipping away from the truth I invite you to choose God today! God loves us all so much and He paid the greatest price for us all. We can be faithful by God’s choice.

Prayer: Father, thank for choosing me. Lord forgive me I have been slowly slipping away from you. Please take me back to where I used to be. Turn me around. Thank you in Jesus name amen.